MDL Hythe Marina allowing boat movements this Saturday !!

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Top2donkey

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My boat is currently moored in MDL Hythe marina and was due to leave on Monday or Tuesday to travel to its summer mooring in Weymouth.

I phoned them to explain that my boat was due to leave between this Saturday and Tuesday (weather and tides depending) and they said due to the corona virus, I couldnt leave and the marina was locked down and there would be no charge for my boat being there until the marina opened again, then 5 minutes later I had a phone call back from Gary in the office there saying that if i don't move my boat this Saturday, I will be charged a weekly storage fee, and that if i come down on Saturday, they will let me have access to the boat, and open the lock gates for me to leave, I did point out to them that sailing appeared to be prohibited and that there were only 4 reasons you could leave your house at the moment, and sailing didn't appear to be one of them, He checked with the marina manager who confirmed that I could travel down to access the marina and I could sail to the Weymouth and it wasnt prohibited.

Whilst i can travel there and would like nothing more than sailing it back to Weymouth this weekend, I'm now worried that i might be in breach of the covid rules that have come into effect and now wonder about not only the legal consequences, but the moral obligations we have and wanted to canvas opinion on others thoughts about this ?

Surely the MDL marina manager knows the laws and regulations, being such a big company, so maybe sailing isn't prohibited ?
 
I would do it.

The law has, deliberately I believe, been left a bit grey. I think you and Gary have the freedom to interpret it as he has.

Morally, how many people are you going to see/speak to/have physical direct or indirect contact with? I guess none. In which case you're doing no more harm than if you went for a walk; and rather less than if you went for walk on Wandsworth common as I just did.

(How are you getting back from Weymouth...is another issue)

It becomes a different question if the weather is foul.
 
I would challenge MDL Head Office to see what they have to say about breaking the Prime Minster's directive. Make them squirm a bit. You might drop into the conversation that you may go public on the UK's premier web forum. This should give them something to think about.

My own marina is closed, no access.
 
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I would venture that MDL are acting totally irresponsibly, and should be challenged by someone in authority.
As for travelling from Weymouth to Hythe, this I do not think is anything like an 'essential journey' as intended by the current Covid19 regulations.
 
Going to an allotment or driving to a place to go for a walk or jogging/walking are hardly essential either yet so far it isok to do.
 
I don't always agree with Macron but he banned all boating on the basis that if you had a problem it would tie up rescue services and possibly a hospital bed.

A bit broad brush but at least there's no doubt what the law is.

I had a look on ais for the Solent today and there were five yachts to the north of Cowes, all with local marinas showing as last location, so people are getting onto their pontoons somehow.

I think MDL's instruction stinks, it's not as though they are losing revenue by you being on a berth, but they are the "pips squeak" company (n)
 
Rappey said:
Going to an allotment or driving to a place to go for a walk or jogging/walking are hardly essential either yet so far it isok to do.
Click to expand...

I don't think a journey of about 190 miles (Weymouth where TopDonkey seems to be based, to Hythe) really equates with a trip down to the allotment and how many are thinking of travelling 190 miles to undertake their daily jog/walk as recomended.
 
RNLI Burnham on Crouch had to launch today to a motor cruiser with a fouled prop thus putting the volunteer crew and launch team at unnecessary risk

Fambridge Yacht Haven has locked its gates today, people were still coming to the marina to work on their boats as i was packing up and leaving yesterday to conge home for the duration

Whatever loopholes can be found in the wording, the intent of the government directive is perfectly clear. Stay home unless you absolutely cannot avoid going out

MDL are, imo, totally out of order and should be taken to task
 
On Monday night the government ordered all business premises to close excluding those referred to as essential businesses. They did this to business premises to protect, any people on site and prevent spread of Coronavirus. Im Sure MDL are doing quite nicely as the majority of their income still comes in from moorings and berthing charges that don't stop when their operation was told to stop.
Given Hampshire has a very high number of covid 19 cases compared to other parts of the country, I think they are behaving recklessly in continuing to operate. They are also breaking the law. Additionally we have been told to not leave home apart from 4 key reasons, to stop the spread of what could be a significant catastrophe in the UK , which quite frankly is being made far worse by our own lack of effort in staying at home.
Quite frankly if true, im appauled that such a business would find it so difficult to stop just for 3 weeks. It seams other MDL sites are operating as normal launching boats. They are doing this to line their pockets over peoples welfare. Yes they will get a call in the morning.
Steveeasy
 
It's not actually illegal but it is irresponsible due to the risk to others should you get in to trouble.

It's not unfair for MDL to charge but its rather silly for their publicity - my own marina closed down (not that you would know by the people coming in to anti foul, varnish etc today ) yesterday, waived fees to tenants on site , waived mooring fees for some on short term visitor berths who now cannot leave, made sure liveaboards had plenty of electricity and gas etc, and left the laundry room open with free tokens for use and are still having the cleaners come in (in isolation whilst they work) daily for the sake of a dozen or so people living there. Where people have a choice they will will vote with their feet (keels?) to places like this rather than MDL.
 
Two points

1) There is increased risk. Filling the car with fuel for the journey. Possibility of using breakdown services all before getting to the boat etc etc
2) There have been many examples of companies and organisations being very fair with their customers in this time and their are those that have been the opposite. I suggest we remember those in both lists when we are handing out our patronage after this is over.

actually 3 points
3) The more stringent we are in social distancing the quicker we can break the cycle and the quicker we can go back to boating. Please do your bit so we can get some season back.
 
Trident said:
It's not actually illegal but it is irresponsible due to the risk to others should you get in to trouble.

It's not unfair for MDL to charge but its rather silly for their publicity - my own marina closed down (not that you would know by the people coming in to anti foul, varnish etc today ) yesterday, waived fees to tenants on site , waived mooring fees for some on short term visitor berths who now cannot leave, made sure liveaboards had plenty of electricity and gas etc, and left the laundry room open with free tokens for use and are still having the cleaners come in (in isolation whilst they work) daily for the sake of a dozen or so people living there. Where people have a choice they will will vote with their feet (keels?) to places like this rather than MDL.
Click to expand...
Good on them, which marina?
 
I agree that non of us should be leaving our houses at all other than when we have no choice , so I antifouled my boat today ? and it was a fairly busy day here with boaters.
Mdl has very current info whereas the others are a week out of date.
Whilst jogging and walks are OK I can't really see things improving currently.
 
Pete7 said:
I would challenge MDL Head Office to see what they have to say about breaking the Prime Minster's directive. Make them squirm a bit. You might drop into the conversation that you may go public on the UK's premier web forum. This should give them something to think about.

My own marina is closed, no access.
Click to expand...

Seems he already has gone public?!
 
I left the boat on Monday afternoon, fully expecting to go back and finish jobs on it, prior to a booked lift in.

Then that evening, the new rules came in, to say no going out for pretty much anything.

After agonising for 2 days, I feel I have no choice but to go back and turn off the electrics, heater etc. Remove cover in case it blows hard again, to avoid damage. Etc. For yard safety. BUT I feel hugely guilty about being out.

After Friday the yard will be locked and that's then "it" till this blows over. The mooring is paid for but not usable, according to the harbour master. The yard will hope to get fees, even though we do not want to be there. Etc.

So the rights and wrongs of the money will need to be sorted in due course.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THE RESPONSIBLE THING IS ACTUALLY TO STAY AT HOME IF YOU CAN.
 
Thank you all for your thoughts and opinions.

I wont be moving the boat until the lockdown is over. whether its legal or not, i dont think its moral, plus my sailing club have said they are closed to all boats now! and they are suprised i'm allowed to leave, I'll give the marina a call in the morning.

Its a bit annoying being told in the first instance to not worry about the charges, and they won't be charging people in my situation, and then to phone me back 5 minutes later to be told that if I don't move my boat out of the marina by the weekend that I will be charged a weekly rate.

I kept my previous boat at Bray MDL marina for 8 years and have stayed at numerous MDL marinas around the South Coast in the past and always found them very welcoming, so this conflicting advice and confrontational stance seems contrary to the MDL welcome I'm used to.

Ian
 
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